Bomb Scare Briefly Closes Union Sq.

The New York Times, 14 May 2010

Published on :
May 14, 2010

Colin Moynihan

"The police cleared a portion of the Union Square area late Thursday after a Consolidated Edison employee reported seeing two gasoline canisters in the back of a blue Oldsmobile Cutlass that was parked in front of the utility company's headquarters, law enforcement officials said.

"But the car, and the gas cans, belonged to a man who mows lawns for a living, said Paul J. Browne, the Police Department's chief spokesman. The authorities lifted the evacuation at 12:45 a.m. Friday, about two and a half hours after the report was called in.

"Mr. Browne said the car's owner, whose name was not released, had parked on Irving Place to attend the Buzzcocks concert at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza, which is at 17 Irving Place. There was no malicious intent, Mr. Browne said. The police escorted the man home in a squad car after he came out of the concert to find his car surrounded by officers and with the windows blown out."Read on...